My friend Sam Rivera stopped by my school and shot this amazing video. Here, Sam was exploring the culture of the school, the motivation of the instructors, as well as what makes Precision Mixed Martial Arts the unique martial arts academy that it is.

If you live in Poughkeepsie, LaGrange or anywhere else in the Hudson Valley and are looking for quality mixed martial arts, Boxing, Muay Thai or Brazilian jiu-jitsu check out http://www.precisionmixedmartialarts.com or call 845-392-8495

There are few forces in this world stronger than the power of belief. Unwavering steadfast conviction is perhaps the most crucial ingredient in the recipe of success. According to the law of attraction, hoping for triumph is not enough; one must adopt victory as a foregone conclusion and act as if their dreams have already come to fruition. Andy Main has embraced this philosophy. The object of his desire is one of the most historically relevant titles in all of mixed martial arts – The King of Pancrase. The background of Andy’s phone is a photo shopped a picture of the infamous title with his name and the year 2015 strewn across the center, a daily reminder that he is the rightful heir to the throne.Although his next fight was not for the title, a stellar performance would place him at the front of the line.

Andy’s journey towards this title of mixed martial arts nobility would not go unchallenged. Standing in his way was Tamura, a well traveled veteran who has worn the Shooto crown and even submitted the great Rumina Sato. Tamura’s fighting style mimicked my own with his affinity for the rubber guard and straight forward style. The familiarity of the style afforded us a clear road map towards victory. However, getting a win in and of itself would not be satisfying. Andy was on the hunt for a higher level performance, a fight that would showcase his true capabilities. In a way this is the dragon that every fighter is chasing, the opportunity to not only be a winner, but an artist. Andy’s recent fights had left a bad taste in his mouth and thrown his trajectory into a sort of purgatory. A majority draw followed by a controversial split decision defeat would not be erased by a pedestrian performance. This fight had to be spectacular if he was going to ascend to the heights of his lofty expectations.

There is no such thing as a perfect fight camp. However, the 6 weeks prior to Pancrase 262 were about as close to flawless as one can ever hope to achieve. I wasn’t the only one who noticed, every sparring partner was keenly aware that Andy had become a higher breed of fighter. Half way through camp Andy alerted me that we would have a familiar face joining us on our third journey to the land of the rising sun – Jonathan Brookins. Andy of course knew Brookins through their time together on season 12 of The Ultimate Fighter. Over the years Andy would often remark on how strong an impression Brookins had made on him and how he hoped that one day their paths would cross. Knowing Andy to be a good judge of character I was excited for the reunion.

At this point Tokyo had become familiar. Everything was accounted for from the Jet lag and miniature hotel rooms to the silent crowd and futuristic toilets – there would be no surprises this time. We stepped off the plane and met with Brookins and his cornerman Ivan Menjivar. Ivan was always one of my favorite fighters. A man who submitted Joe Lauzon and despite his diminutive stature stood toe to toe with George St. Pierre. Our first meeting was made all the more memorable by Ivan’s choice of wardrobe. He wore Jeans and sneakers with an oversized hotel provided pinstriped pajama vest. The airline had misplaced his luggage forcing him to don the fashionable ensemble.

The next day Brookins and Ivan toured the city while Andy and I went to train at Hearts MMA. The fighters in Japan have a distinct style of training. Their movements are fast, loose and constant. They thrive on transitions and all seem to have limitless cardio. Americans, on the aggregate, are different. There is more strategy and counter fighting, more pressure and pinning. The American style is more grueling, the Japanese style more tiring. Like the difference between an uphill climb and a downhill sprint. The change of pace was invigorating. After the session we exchanged techniques. On the mat our communication difficulties ceased, jiu-jitsu became our universal language.

Open workouts and media day were next on the agenda. Andy is typically very soft spoken in front of the camera. His prototypical interview carries a tone of reserved humility, but this time around he was more audacious. He made it clear that he was going to win this fight and demand a shot at the title after his victory. Brookins was more introspective. He spoke about this fight as part of finding his place in the world, he noted that his former wrestling coach was Japanese and that he always felt drawn to Japan.

Brookins is an anomaly within the mixed martial arts world, a free thinker who exudes an abnormal level of honesty and sincerity. Defying the MMA stereotype, he is without bravado. The reluctant celebrity, Brookins is a peace-loving yogi who doesn’t even own a cell phone. In conversation he spoke openly about his shortcomings and personal battles. It appeared that for him fighting was simultaneously the easiest and most challenging profession. Physically Brookins is gifted. His movements are intuitively precise, his dexterity and flexibility are unmatched; his learning curve and athleticism are of the highest order. Brookins’ struggles are mental and philosophical. He confessed that in the past he experienced cognitive dissonance between his peaceful lifestyle and his violent profession. He wondered if by fighting MMA he could be in some way desensitizing people to violence and thereby contributing to society’s malevolence. He admitted that while his will to fight was ever present his allegiance to training waxed and waned and had it not been for Ivan’s diligent supervision he may not have been able to return to form. Brookins had a tall task ahead of him. He was taking on the best Japan had to offer – the bantamweight King of Pancrase Shintaro Ishiwatari who had made his intention clear – he wanted to get to the UFC and use Brookins as his stepping stone. Despite these crucibles Brookins was in high spirits. Japan had energized him. He felt like he was destined to be there and relished the chance to perform in front of this new audience. Fighting had become a form of self expression and this bout was an opportunity to tell a new story.

The session concluded by checking the fighters’ weight. After a hard training session Andy was on weight. Brookins had 10 pounds to cut. By general MMA standards losing 10 pounds the day before weigh-in is standard operating procedure, but in Japan things are different. The Pancrase representative chastised Brookins for being so heavy and assured him if he missed weight the consequences would be dire. Brookins laughed off the concerns and told the man that for all the grief he was put through he demanded to be taken to the finest Japanese restaurant after he made weight.

Weight was made without issue. Fight day was now upon us, with Brookins headlining and Andy fulfilling the co-main slot, which meant we would have some time on our hands. Sitting in the locker room I took the opportunity to pick Ivan’s brain on all things MMA. He spoke about how the sport of MMA had changed over time. He noted that when he came up the ranks he didn’t turn down fights or hand pick opponents. His intention was to test himself and compete. A true throwback, he would take on anyone at anytime and do so with a smile on his face. He spoke about how the sport needed to move away from weight cutting and the misery he endured starving himself down to 135 pounds. He was critical of fighters who refuse to discuss their compensation, noting that without the information being made public there is too much wild speculation and young fighters can’t accurately create a roadmap for their careers. Ivan’s perspective is unique since he has experienced the sport on every level since its inception – fan, student, elite competitor, coach and cornerman, he had seen it all. Through our conversation it became apparent that Ivan’s aspirations and concerns lay beyond his personal glory, he wants to better the sport for all athletes.

Finally fight time neared. I wrapped Andy’s hands, he warmed up and he began his pre-fight pacing. I used to take his faceless expression and silent marching as a signal of nerves and insecurity, but now I recognize it as a sign of readiness, the final ritual before entering center stage. The fight begins and Andy stalks forward. Tamura begins firing kicks with full power, asserting himself and letting all in attendance know he has bad intentions. After a series of strikes Tamura presses Andy up against the cage. As the minutes tick away a moment of worry creeps into my mind. Andy is seemingly allowing Tamura into the fight, standing in front of him and acquiescing to being pinned against the fence. Just as my fears begin to culminate Andy silences them with a well timed takedown. He quickly advances his position until he is in full back mount. Time is not on our side so I tell him to look for strikes rather than submissions. Andy responds and lands a series of hard blows at the bell. I look at Tamura’s body language as he walks to his corner. He shows all the trappings of a man on the brink of defeat – slow to rise, fatigue written across his face, an ever so slight stagger as he stands. Conversely, the air of confidence so present in training camp is once again alive in Andy.

I instruct Andy to circle away from Tamura’s power as I expect him to enter a desperation mode. I urge him to be less calculating and more aggressive in his striking, to capitalize on Tamura’s inability to fight moving backwards. The judges indicate that the round belongs to us. Pancrase utilizes an open scoring system, taking the guess work out of assessing a fighter’s performance in the stanza. Andy nods his head in agreement and readies himself for the second round.

As expected, Tamura races forward throwing heavy shots, but Andy’s footwork provides him with no target. Andy is more aggressive now, landing heavy shots at will. Just as it seems we have victory in our crosshairs Tamura lands a perfectly timed superman punch, the cleanest strike of the bout. There was a palatable disappointment across Tamura’s face as he realized Andy was unfazed by the blow. Andy unloads a fierce combination and Tamura drops to the canvas. For a moment I thought Andy had scored a knockout, but Tamura would not go so quietly. Tamura desperately fights to tie Andy up from the guard as Andy works his passing. Finally, he achieves the full mount. There are only 30 seconds left, but Andy has the finish on his mind.

He postures tall and lands fierce punches, but in his haste Tamura begins to work his legs in. I scream for Andy to get closer and switch to elbows. He listens and the strikes begin accumulating in fierce succession, the only question now is if he can beat the clock. Tamura begins to turn away and abandons all defense, the ref mercifully steps in with just moments left on the clock – victory.

Andy is elated, he rejoices the moment and exudes the satisfaction known only to those who realize a hard fought goal. I begin yelling “King of Pancrase” to the crowd petitioning for Andy’s shot at the title as the referee raises his hand. Walking out of the cage Andy is greeted by a wave of adoring Japanese fans. The fans in Japan are more respectful. In America spectators will often aggressively shove merchandise in a fighter’s face with little tact or etiquette – American fans will often not even know the competitor’s name, but feel it is their right to secure his signature for their benefit. In Japan the fans often bring gifts to the fighters, small tokens of their appreciation to show how much they enjoyed the combatant’s performance. This time there was an artist in the crowd who gave Andy a portrait he drew of him to commemorate his time in Japan, a remarkable memento that illuminated the cultural differences in the east vs the west.

After attending to his fans, Andy and I turned our attention to Brookins as he made his way to the cage. Ivan told me that although Brookins is seemingly more pacifist than pugilist, once the cage door closes he changes and the primal side of him takes center stage. As Brookins squared off with his opponent I could see the transformation was in full effect. The fight was a complete barnburner. Brookins would dominate the round and then somehow find himself in a firefight where it seemed both fighters could be knocked out at any moment. There were several momentum switches and reversals of fortune and the fight became more of a test of wills than an athletic competition. Brookins’ wrestling proved to be the difference though and he took home the unanimous decision. Although he had defeated the champion the bout was a non-title affair, undoubtedly setting the stage for an epic rematch. Brookins was like a new man following his victory. He was energized and enthusiastic about his future prospects and looked like he was ready for fight another 3 rounds right then and there.

Andy was reflective after his bout. He told me he used to be nervous before competing, afraid of disappointing people – his friends, family and students. Until he realized that his support wasn’t predicated on having an unblemished record. Those who cheer for him do so out of admiration for his daring struggle for greatness. Competitive fighting is a metaphor for the struggles of life. We don’t win every battle, but we appreciate those who have the courage to continue in the face of adversity.

Andy and Brookins had traveled long roads to reach this point. Andy had been a hot prospect when he joined the Ultimate Fighter, but injuries and illness forced him into a two year hiatus. In that same span Brookins went from the exclusive fraternity of Ultimate Fighter winners to being unemployed and contemplating retirement. There is indeed life after TUF though. Both Andy and Brookins have climbed new mountains and reclaimed the spotlight half a world away from home. They are two fighters who believe in themselves and it won’t be long before they make believers out of everyone.

Need more than words to bring the story to life check out the videos below:

Live in Poughkeepsie and want to enroll you kids in martial arts or karate classes? Check out Precision MMA, with kids classes 7 days a week in a beautiful 5,000 square foot facility Precision has something for everyone. Precision kids learn life skills along with their martial arts techniques, discipline, sportsmanship, hard work and dedication are the hallmarks of each and every one of our classes.

There are many joys I get to experience as a martial arts instructor, from helping a student master a difficult technique, to teaching a young child the value of hard work, to being in the corner for a championship prize fight. However, there is nothing more satisfying than stories of self defense. Knowing that the techniques you taught someone came to the rescue at the most critical juncture provides a satisfaction like nothing else.

Precision MMA is fortunate to have both incredible instructors and dedicated students. Here is the story of Nick Formichelli, a corrections officier in Dutchess County who was able to use the techniques he learned at Precision to protect himself from a hostile inmate.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away I first met Jim and Dan Miller – it was around 2005 at “Planet Jiu-jitsu” (the name of the gym where the Miller’s began their training). Planet was an affiliate of my coach Rob Kahn and he brought me along to roll with these two blue belts everyone was talking about. I knew they both were standout wrestlers, but knowing these prodigies hadn’t been training very long I didn’t expect much. Despite their limited mat time Jim and Dan gave me all I could handle – the only reason I was able to come out on top at all was because I used submissions they hadn’t seen yet. Afterwards we all went out to eat and they told me how they were training for their first MMA fights in a few weeks. I immediately knew they would quickly be making a name for themselves.

Eventually Sean “Shorty Rock” Santella started asking me to work with him. He took to my teaching well and began singing my praises enough that a few other fighters started trying me on for size – eventually I wound up working with the Millers. Jim and Dan are special athletes. For most people, they’ll learn a new move or concept and it will take a serious amount of repetition along with trial and error before they make it their own. With the Millers, I could show them a technique on Monday and they’d tap me out with it by Wednesday. Jim and Dan are submission hunters, we used to joke that they had a “submission before position” style of fighting. This sort of approach has earned them more than a few bonus checks and some amazing highlight reel finishes, but from time to time it could backfire.

Precision MMA

In Jim’s bouts against Joe Lauzon and Pat Healy he went full seek and destroy mode right out the gate. He left Lauzon covered in blood and had Healy nearly unconscious at the end of the first round. However, as the fights played out both turned into back and forth wars – while the FOTN bonus checks were nice it was becoming apparent that a more tactical approach might result in a longer and more fruitful career. Going into this fight camp all coaches were in agreement about being efficient and calculating; hitting single and doubles rather than constantly swinging for the fences. The ground attack for based around safety first, making sure to avoid unnecessary damage and allowing the opponent to give us the opening rather than forcing it. Jim’s opponent Fabricio Camoes was a 3rd degree BJJ black belt so we had our work cut out for us.

This was my first time cornering a fight in Vegas. I didn’t realize how intense the fight fans were. Jim was a full-fledged celebrity, every step he took he was shaking hands, signing autographs or kissing babies. More people knew Jim here than if he was at his high school reunion. The interesting thing I noticed though was how short the fan’s memories were. After leaving a fighter meeting I walked ahead while Jim was meeting with fans. Standing next to me the entire time was former world champion Mike Brown. To me Brown is an MMA legend; he finished Urijah Faber when many thought he was untouchable. Before Jose Aldo came along he had won 10 straight and was a two time defending WEC champion. Still and active fighter, he had won 2 of his last 3 UFC fights. Yet he walked through the crowded sea of fans without recognition. I came to realize that MMA is very much about “what have you done lately”.

Team Miller passed the time telling stories about youthful hijinks, gardening and brewing strategies and the many misadventures of their precocious children. Aside from briefly discussing strategy you’d have no idea we would be entering a fist fight on pay per view.

Precision MMA

I’m generally very nervous before fights. Regardless of how prepared a fighter happens to be I can’t keep my mind from running through doomsday scenarios. I generally try to conceal my uncertainty through a combination of binge eating and bad jokes. For this fight I felt abnormally at ease. I was certain Jim would be successful and his confident disposition calmed my normally alert nerves. However, for a moment all that changed. While at weigh-ins I saw Royler Gracie stroll by and thought to myself, “I wonder who he’s cornering”. Then I remembered that he was there for Camoes, Jim’s opponent. I had a sudden bout of self-doubt. I grew up on legends of the Gracie family. When I was 16 you could have convinced me that Helio and his sons hung the moon. I remember Royler was hand-picked to corner Rickson in Japan years before I even knew how to spell jiu-jitsu. I thought he had likely forgotten more than I’d ever know about jiu-jitsu. However, for the past two months I was tasked with devising a jiu-jitsu strategy that would overwhelm Royler’s top fighter. My dormant neurosis was now alive and well. I reminded myself that it was Jim vs Camoes, not Brian vs Royler and tried my best to focus on the task at hand.

This fight camp there was a new approach. Jim took a more analytical approach to his preparation and really put himself under the microscope. He realized that while he had elite technique and conditioning, he would occasionally get himself into hot water by being overly aggressive. Trying to KO his opponent with every strike earned him some hefty bonuses, but may have cost him some key victories as well. Patience and relaxation were the theme of this fight camp. Attack when the moment is right rather than forcing the issue. Warming up Jim looked fluid and focused. When the first note of “Long Cool Woman” filled the arena Jim marched towards the octagon with unshakable composure.

Precision MMA

The bell sounded and Camoes rushed towards Jim. While our approach was slow and steady, Camoes was in seek and destroy mode. The first few exchanges saw Camoes landing hard strikes that were starting to find their mark. He was loading up on hooks and head kicks, trying to end the bout quickly. This was not what we expected. A wrestling and jiu-jitsu attack was what we assumed Camoes, a third degree BJJ black belt, would bring to the table. This straight ahead striking attack took us by surprise. Jim shifted gears and looked for the takedown, which presented itself when Camoes attempted a high kick. Immediately Camoes attempted to spring back to his feet and in the process exposed his back. Jim got a little overanxious and slid off the back though, ending up on the bottom in guard. Instantly, he began breaking Camoes’ posture in order to control the distance and limit any strikes. I called out for him to swim his arm to the mat. Jim responded, but Camoes countered and kept his arm on the torso. Jim cleared the head and immediately swung into the armbar. He clamped his legs into position and synched a tight grip across the wrist while hooking the leg to prevent a slam. Then he waited. Rather than forcing the issue he was biding his time and waiting for the ideal opportunity. Camoes for a moment pulled his weight back; Jim now had his opportunity and powerfully arched his hips. Dan saw Camoes wince in pain and instructed his brother to give it everything he had. Jim obliged him and Camoes was forced to submit.

Precision MMA

Immediate exaltation spread throughout our corner. A first round submission without taking serious damage, by all accounts a near perfect performance. Camoes stormed off, punching the cage in anger. In that moment I felt for him. He had obviously made substantial improvements for this fight. He had hoped to put the new and improved Fabricio Camoes on display and for a few moments looked like he might enjoy his day in the sunshine. However, MMA is a winner-take-all system and despite his diligence he would suffer the slings and arrows of defeat. Following his cathartic fence stomping Camoes shook Jim’s hand.

-During his post-fight interview Jim surprised me. It isn’t often that a fighter gets a captive audience, victory speeches are often opportunities to bolster their accomplishment, proclaim their title worthiness, or call out rival fighters. Instead when Joe Rogan asked Jim about his victory he took his moment to tell the world that I was a quality trainer, a truly selfless act that reminded me that every long drive to New Jersey was well worth the trip.

2014 has been busy for me. Although the year is still in its infancy I’ve traveled from Poughkeepsie to Las Vegas, Atlanta, and now Tokyo, along the way sharing in surreal victories and heartbreaking defeats. The mixed martial arts world is a roller coaster of experiences. Fights are by their very nature chaotic and unpredictable. As martial artists we attempt to tame the beast of uncertainty through rigorous training and preparation. Yet, despite our best efforts there are no guarantees and fortunes rise and fall with each punch thrown. Although I’ve often times felt the cold realities of this phenomenon; as I boarded the plane for Tokyo I thought to myself, “we’ve got this in the bag”.

Stepping into the ring was Andy Main, a long and lean southpaw who could tap out most men with a stern glance. He was riding a three fight winning streak, including a victory over Hiroki Aoki, a feared top ten Pancrase fighter. His opponent this time around was Akira Okada. Akira was heralded as the top pupil of Japanese MMA legend Takanori Gomi. Similar to “the fireball kid” Akira earned his victories through vicious power. He’d throw hard and often, and on more than one occasion left his opponent wearing a crimson mask of his own blood. However, his power and fierceness left him wild. A precise fighter like Andy could navigate the turbulent sea of aggression and find many ports to victory. There were other factors on our side as well – Andy was half a foot taller with a sizeable reach advantage. His movements were faster and more dynamic. Akira moved forward in a leaping fashion, Andy’s footwork was sure to leave him lost and confused. Andy had also sharpened his jiu-jitsu, adding new submission entries from his already dangerous guard. Every time I ran the numbers the arithmetic yielded the same result, an Andy Main victory.

Precision MMA

Boarding the plane felt familiar. Things were going to be easier this time around I thought. We were prepared for the marathon flight and jetlag. We knew where to train and how to traverse the landscape. The ring would be familiar and the unique rules routine. While the lack of novelty was comforting, it also made the experience less magical. We had become well acquainted with Japanese mores; episodes of culture shock were few and far between. This trip was less about exploring a foreign land and more about taking care of business.

After getting settled we went for our fist pre-fight workout. Since Andy was fighting at 155, a weight class above his featherweight home, his energy was high and we were able to train hard. We rolled for close to 30 minutes straight and I had to fight for every inch of progress. Andy’s transitions were sharp and the 15 hours of flight had not robbed him of one ounce of strength. We went over a small handful of techniques and scenarios and then met the media for photo ops and interviews. Later in the evening I wanted to get some training in so we made a trip to Tri-force Gotanda, a spectacular BJJ school that I had visited during my last trip to Tokyo. We reviewed some Judo throws and then it was time for rolling. I expected Andy to be a bit slower considering our earlier training session, but he was every bit as fast and left his training partners scratching their heads and gasping for air. I knew he was without a doubt in fight shape.

Precision MMA at Tri-force Gotanda

The following day was weigh-ins. I was surprise when I saw MMA legend Yuki Kondo step on the scale. I had no idea he was fighting on the card. Kondo had tooth and nail battles with the likes of Semmy Schilt and Dan Henderson. He famously stopped the MMA hopes of BJJ legend Saulo Ribeiro and even took on Tito Ortiz for the UFC title. Even more amazing was that Andy had higher billing than him on the card. Kondo shook my hand and obliged my requests for photos with admirable humility.

Yuki Kondo and Precision MMA Coach Brian McLaughlin

Finally fight day was upon us, we followed the routine of “hurry up and wait”. Pancrase events are marathons with up to 30 bouts on a single card with talent ranging from aspiring new comers to mixed martial arts royalty. Andy was the co-main event, which meant we had some time to kill. We alternated between waxing philosophical about deep existential mysteries of the universe and trading stories about crazy ex-girlfriends.

As fight time approached we rehearsed the gameplan and I went about reassuring Andy of his success (which is as much for me as it is for him). When I heard the familiar sound of his walkout music I knew we’d reached that point of no return and made our way towards the ring. The bell sounded and Akira rushed forward, Andy rattled off a three punch combination finding the mark with each strike. After tasting Andy’s strikes Akira rushed in for the takedown. I could tell Akira’s strength and power were alive and well for this bout. Immediately Andy tied Akira up, taking away all his offensive options. Akira drove his head forward pressuring Andy, but this only made him more vulnerable to attack. Andy shifted his hips and began maneuvering into position for armbars and triangles. After several close calls Akira abandoned all offense and made survival his sole concern. The round came to a conclusion and I assured Andy that his strategy was working, but he’d need to open up more in order to secure the submission. I also noted that Akira had unusually small arms, making the triangle a better option than the armbar. Andy nodded and paced in the corner awaiting the start of the second round. A unique part of Pancrase is their open scoring where fighters know exactly what the judges render after each round. Two judges scored the round even, one judge gave the round to Andy; making us ahead by the smallest of margins.

Precision MMA

Akira was aware he was behind and the threat of defeat clearly awakened a dormant sense of urgency in him. The echo of the bell was still in the air when Akira leapt forward with a thunderous punch. The shot landed flush but Andy clinched and fired back a knee. They were chest to chest now, which negated Andy’s reach advantage and gave Akira the window he had been waiting for. Akira fired off rapid fire hooks, uppercuts and knees finding their mark over and over again. Andy was caught off guard but bit down on his mouth piece and began firing back. The fight devolved into a pure slugfest where Andy was taking two to give one in a battle of pure power – a battle that Akira was clearly winning. At one point Andy stumbled and Akira pounced on him, driving him to the ground and punching with murderous intentions. As he passed to the mount I was screaming for Andy to tie him up and regroup, but I could tell he wasn’t firing on all cylinders, as the strikes began to add up the referee seemed moments away from stopping the fight. A trickle of blood ran from the corner of Andy’s eye and sweat poured from his body. He was faced with a decision, he could lay down and accept defeat or he could move his hips and stay in the fight. He chose the latter. Andy recovered his guard and threw up a triangle attempt, although Akira wasn’t in real jeopardy symbolically this told him that he was still in a fight and nothing short of death was going to dissuade Andy Main.

Precision MMA

Andy made his way back to the corner and I attempted to reassure him that Akira was exhausted and he could still win the fight if he kept his guard up and fought in the center of the ring. I ignored the scores and before the start of the round screamed “You can still win this!”

Andy got off the stool and marched toward Akira with confident determination. He looked desperate to return the favor. They traded punches much like the previous round, but this time Andy’s strikes had steam on them and Akira’s were losing power. A big knee sent Akira staggering back into the ropes and just like that the momentum had officially changed hands. Akira powered a takedown, undaunted Andy began firing off submissions left and right. Despite being on his back Andy was clearly in control of the fight. Each successive armbar and triangle attempt was closer than the one before until it happened…a fully locked in triangle. The figure four was perfect, the arm was across the carotid artery, the leg was hooked to prevent the escape – everything was in place. Akira struggled, twisted to his side, stacked his weight forward, furiously attempted to posture, nothing was releasing Andy’s hold, there would be no escape. I was elated, we had survived the most turbulent of fortunes and now victory lay in our lap. Akira made one thing clear though, he would not be tapping. If we were to steal victory from him it would have to be pried from his cold dead hand. Just before the final second ticked away I saw Akira slump over, I thought for sure he was unconscious, but as the final bell sound he rose still in the fight our fate would now be decided by three judges.

As a fighter you become a utilitarian. Success, failure, sadness or happiness is dependent on one result – victory. Absolute success and abject failure are a consequence of three people’s opinion. However, in the moments before the scores were tallied I couldn’t have cared less about the decision. What Andy had accomplished in the ring that night was a victory of magnificent heights regardless of the callous number system attributed to his name.

Both fighters made their way to the center of the ring. Eyes closed and fists clenched, enduring the uncertainty like a title wave, the decision was read…DRAW. The anticipation met a seemingly anti-climatic conclusion, there was no jubilation, no pounding of chests or devastating remorse – both fighters shook hands and walked away bewildered and dismayed.

Precision MMA

Fighting isn’t easy, stay with it long enough and it will bring you face to face with your greatest fears. Physical fears of fatigue, pain and injury are the obvious dangers that occupy the concern of the uninitiated. However, the truly terrifying phobias a pugilist must confront are those of failure, inadequacy, and cowardice. Along with these perils fighting brings truth, it shines an illuminating light on the character of those daring enough to step into the ring. The greatest victory a fighter can earn comes not from the external validation of fame or fortune, but of self mastery. Andy ventured to Japan in search of victory and although that eluded him, along the way he earned something much more valuable.

Metamoris 1 was the arguably the most exciting professional jiu-jitsu event ever created. An eclectic assortment of different jiu-jitsu approaches – fast and furious, or slow and methodical, intense or playful all pursuing the ultimate goal of submission. Even when no submission occurred there was a sense that each competitor truly left their heart and soul out on the mat. Metamoris 1 was a landmark, torches were passed, rivalries intensified, questions were answered and even more were asked. Every fan of jiu-jitsu awaited the next event with baited breath.

Metamoris 2 was the worst sequel since The Godfather 3, a failure of colossal proportions unimaginable by even the most pessimistic of individuals. After any horrific tragedy the survivors are left with 1 question…why? Some actions are so deranged that no sense can be made of them; such is the case with Brendan Schaub. The only winner in that situation was Matt Mitrione, who gained a huge army of supporters for his UFC on Fox 8 bout vs Schaub. The question was asked by Rener Gracie, if you had to face Cyborg what would you have done differently? The answer is simple, I would have grappled him. If I boxed Flloyd Mayweather and simply fled the ring every time he came close enough to throw a punch I would not be proud of my performance or kid myself into thinking I somehow benefited the sport of boxing. The match was reminiscent of Nate Quarry’s battle against Kalib Starnes.

The Schaub abomination aside, the evening was full of people fighting tooth and nail for bottom position, tug of war lapel battles and monotonous half-hearted foot lock attempts. If not for Kron Gracie and Shinya Aoki there would have been no hope whatsoever.

The purpose of this diatribe is not solely to vent frustration (however cathartic that may be), but to hopefully offer some suggestions in the hopes that the greatness of Metamoris 1 may one day be repeated.

#1 – Create a closed perimeter

Rorian Gracie wanted to avoid having contestants flee the ring when he thought up the UFC. The use of a cage wall accomplished this end. While it is understandable that Metamoris wants to differentiate itself from MMA, some sort of physical barrier is necessary. A padded wall of plexi glass hockey rink esque barrier is necessary. Even in the name of safety the change should be made since multiple times fighters were nearly thrown from the mat.

#2 – No judges

Truthfully Metamoris is in many ways a repackaging of Rose Gracie’s “Gracie Nationals” tournaments. Rose got it right, you can’t get your hand raised unless you go for it. You must pursue the submission, period. The most exciting matches of Metamoris 1 were Xande vs Lister and Roger vs Buchecha. However, those matches were made amazing by the fact that the fighters wanted to win so badly that they constantly attacked. Beautiful submissions coupled with amazing escapes occurred as a result of submission being the only path to victory. The finality of a winner is not terribly important in this event since it is not a tournament and not about promoting the fighters as much as promoting the art. Also, in both cases the court of public opinion picked a clear winner anyway. The ironic part of Metamoris 2 was judges were brought in to prevent a draw and the first two matches were judged as a draw. Finally, it may be a moot point since Kron submitted Aoki, but I couldn’t help but feel like the game was rigged against Shinya since two of the judges could not easily remain impartial – JJ Machado is part of Kron’s extended family and Pedro Sauer is his father’s top black belt, it just seemed unfair if you ask me.

If a competitor turns his back and runs away then they aren’t there to compete. 5 Minutes into the Brendan Schaub / Cyborg match it became apparent that Schaub wasn’t going to engage anywhere, on the feet or the ground. Simply end the contest and move on. I am a fan of a zero tolerance no warning system, just automatic DQ for obvious offensive. This would be the stalling equivalent to the IBJJF’s knee reaping rule. After the first couple of DQ’s the message would be crystal clear, grapple or lose.

#4 – Metamoris Tryouts

The problem is that grapplers are being brought in and the promoters simply cross their fingers and hope that they will be exciting. I believe that elite grapplers should apply be brought in and made to roll for 20 minutes. The ones who get to compete are those who attempt submissions and are exciting to watch. I don’t care if they aren’t the best or if they get tapped out, if they put on a show they get a chance to compete. Also let it be known that those who do not perform will not be invited back.

#5 – Cash Incentives

I don’t know how athletes are compensated at Metamoris, but putting a carrot on a stick would help encourage action. If a competitor knew they would make 50% more if they hit a submission then you can bet they would be hunting for them. The UFC has done this with performance based pay, the problem is MMA is very dangerous so going for a submission and failing can cost you quite a few brain cells. Jiu-Jitsu does not carry the same risks so hopefully competitors will be compelled to pursue a finish in order to fatten their wallets.

Brian McLaughlin is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and head instructor at Precision Mixed Martial Arts in LaGrange, NY a Hudson Valley Martial Arts School